Centrifugal separator



Q 1950 D. B. ROSSHEIM HAL 2,524,398

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR Filed May 18, 1948 INVENTORS DAVID 'B. ROSSHEIM 26ws T. HOLZWARTH ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 3, 1950 CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATORDavid B. Rossheim, Teaneck, and Hans T. Holzwarth, Westfield,

ration of New Jersey N. J., assignors to The M. W. Kellogg Company,Jersey City, N. J., a corpo- Application May 18, 1948, Serial No. 27,806

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to centrifugal separators and moreparticularly relates to centrifugal separators wherein solid or heavyparticles carried by a gaseous or fluid medium are centrifugallyseparated by means of two vortices having opposite senses of rotation.

Th prior art centrifugal separators can be divided roughly into twoclasses; first, separators wherein the fluid being acted upon is causedto form a single vortex, and second, separators wherein the fluid beingacted upon is caused to abruptly change its direction of flow.

The prior art separators utilizing a single vortex are diihcult andexpensive to manufacture because of the great accuracy with which theymust be manufactured if they are to function with good efficiency. Theseparators relying on an abrupt change of direction of the fluid beingtreated ar relatively simple to manufacture but they are capable ofcausing only very heavy particles to be thrown out of said fluid.

One object of the present invention is to provide a centrifugalseparator adapted to form two substantially parallel vortices havingopposite senses of rotation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a centrifugalseparator which is easy and economical to manufacture and which iseflicient, reliable, and durable.

Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following particular description and from aninspection of the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a diagonal top view of the centrifugal separator of thepresent invention showing one end thereof broken away;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the centrifugal separatortaken along the line 2--2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view partly in section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure1.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises a generally Y-shapedhollow body In having a double vortex generating portion 12 whichapproaches a cylinder in cross-section and which merges into thedivergent arms [4 andlB of the Y. An inlet duct I8 having a generallyrectangular cross-section passes substantially radially through the wallof the double vortex generating portion l2 adjacent the end thereofremote from the divergent arms [4 and I6 and in a direction which issubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the portion 12 and the armsl4 and [6.

The double vortex generating portion [2 may be cylindrical incross-section,but it preferably axial openings 28 in the has across-section derived from a cylinder by flattening a predeterminedportion of the wall thereof opposite the inlet duct l 8 as shown at I1,and allowing the sides of said portion I2 to bulge outwardly as aresult.

Fluid to be acted upon by the apparatus of the present invention isadmitted into portion l2 at high velocity through the inlet duct 18. Thefluid leaves the inlet duct I8 and impinges upon the inner surface ofthe wall of the portion I2, which, as set forth above preferably isflattened, and is caused to divide and form two vortices rotating inopposite directions. The axes of the two vortices are substantiallyparallel to each other and also are substantially parallel to the axisof the portion ii. The vortices move along the portion [2 from the inletduct It towards the arms l4 and Iii and upon reaching said arms i l andit they are divided thereby and one vortex passes down arm I4 and theother vortex passes down arm [6 partially.

The arms 14 and I6 are provided with a plurality of circumferential orperipheral collection slots 19 located in the lower hair of theirdownstream end through which the heavy particles carried. by the fluidpass. Each of the arms I l and lo are provided with an annular bleederduct 26, each of which is in commumcation with the interior of itsrespective arm by means of a circumferential bleeder slot 22. Thebleeder ducts 20 each merge into and become a part of the collectionduct or chamber 24 which extends around the lower half of the downstreamend of each of the arms I l and It and encloses the collection slots 19.An opening or duct 26 is provided in the bottom of the collector duct topermit the material collected through slots ill to be carried out of thecollection duct or chamber 24 by the fluid bled from the arms l4 and [6through slots I9 and the bleeder ducts 2i] and slots 22. The materialcollected in the collection duct 24, and the fluid bled from the arms i4and I6 can be disposed of in any desired manner.

The remainder of the fluid passes out through arms 14 and I6 and. can beconducted therefrom to apparatus where it is utilized or to apparatusfor further treatment. Because of the position of the annular bleederducts 2B and circumferential bleeder slots 22, it is possible to removea large proportion of relatively unpurifled fluid which composes theouter layers of the vortices so that the remainder of the fluid leavingthrough the axial openings is relatively purifiedl To insure theeflicient and dependable formation of two vortices in the centrifugalseparator of the present invention under widely varying conditions, as,for example, varying pressures and for velocities of the fluid beingtreated, it is preferred that certain proportions be adhered to or notexceeded. Preferably the inlet duct l8 has a rectangular cross-sectionand extends radially into the double vortex generating portion [2 withtwo of its sides extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axisof said portion. l2. Furthermore, to insure the utmost efficiency in thedevelopment and maintenance of two vortices the transverse chordaldimension of the in let duct l8, indicated at A in Figure 3, should notexceed .6 of the diameter of the portion l2 before it is flattened asabove described, and the longitudinal dimension of the inlet duct [8,indicated at B in Figure 2, should not exceed and preferably should beless than its transverse chordal dimension. Also the wall of the doublevortex generating portion l2 preferably is flattened or substantiallyflattened for a predetermined area diainetrically opposite from theinlet duct H3. The flattened portion may vary in width depending uponthe performance characteristics desired in the separator, but it hasbeen found that flattening an area representing substantially 45 degreesof arc of the double vortex generating portion i2 is preferable.

It is preferred to employ an inlet duct I8 having a rectangularcross-section, and a double vortex generating portion i2 having aflattened wall portion, all as above described. However, it will beunderstood that the double vortex centrifugal separators of the presentinvention can be constructed wherein the inlet duct l8 approaches arectangle in cross-section, and Wherein the double Vortex generatingportion [2 is cylindrical in cross-section, or has a portion of its wallnot completely flattened. By varying the cross-sectional area and shapeof inlet duct 18 and the cross-sectional shape of the double vortexgenerating portion H2, centrifugal separators can be constructed whichwill have double vortex generating characteristics under predeterminedlimited conditions.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention herein involved, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown inthe accompanying drawing, shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A generally Y-shaped, centrifugal separator structure including anunobstructed chamber, inlet means adapted to direct a stream of fluidthrough the wall of said chamber against the wall surface of saidchamber diametrically opposite said inlet means to cause said stream offluid to form a pair of vortices with substantially parallel axes andwith opposite senses of rotation, and a pair of arms, spaced from saidinlet means, diverging from said chamber adapted to separate saidvortices for passage ofa single vortex down each arm, and means towithdraw portions of said stream of fluid.

2. A centrifugal separator structure, generally Y-shaped, consisting ofa double vortex generating chamber, inlet means connected to saidchamber adapted to direct a stream of fluid through the wall at one endof said'chamber against the wall surface of said chamber diametricallyopposite said inlet 'means,whereby said stream of fluid is caused toform two vortices with axes substantially parallel to each other and tothe axis of said chamber and with opposite senses of rotation, and apair of arms diverging from the other end of said chamber and sopositioned with respect thereto to separate said vortices for singlepassage down each arm, and means to withdraw portions of said stream offluid.

3. A centrifugal separator comprising a generally Y-shaped hollow bodyhaving a double vortex generating portion, an inlet duct extendingthrough the wall of said vortex generating portion at one end thereof,said inlet duct being positioned to direct a stream of fluid against theinner surface of said wall opposite thereto, whereby said stream offluid is caused to form two vortices with axes substantially parallel toeach other and to the axis of said vortex generating portion and withopposite senses of rotation, and a pair of arms diverging from the otherend of said vortex generating portion and so positioned with respectthereto to separate said vortices so that a single vortex will pass downeach arm, and means to withdraw selective portions of said stream offluid.

4. A centrifugal separator comprising a generally Y shaped hollow bodyhaving a double vortex generating portion and a pair of arms divergingfrom one end of said vortex generating por tion, an inlet duct extendingradially through the wall of said vortex generating portion at the otherend thereof, said inlet duct being'adapted to direct a stream of fluidagainst the inner surface of said wall opposite thereto, whereby saidstream of fluid is caused to form two vortices with axes substantiallyparallel to each other and to the. axis of said vortex generatingportion and with opposite senses of rotation, said arms being positionedwith respect to said vortex generating portion so that said vortices'areseparated in orderthat a single'vortex pass down each arm, and means bywhich selective portions of said stream of fluid are removed.

5. A centrifugal separator comprising a generally Y shaped hollow bodywith an approximately cylindrical, double vortex generating portion, aninlet duct, generally rectangular in cross section, extending radiallythrough the wall of said vortex generating portion atone end thereof,the wall of said vortex generating portion opposite said inlet ductbeing flattened so that said inlet duct directs a stream of fluidagainst the flattened wall portion whereby two vortices are formedhaving axes substantially parallel to each other and to the axis of saidvortex generating portion and having opposite senses of rotation, a pairof arms diverging from the other end of said vortex generating portionand positioned with respect thereto so as to separate said vortices inorder that a single vortex will pass down each arm, and means toremoveselective portions of said stream of fluid.

6. A centrifugal separator comprising a generall Y shaped hollow bodyhaving an approximately cylindrical, double vortex generating portionand a pair of arms diverging. from one end of said vortex generatingportion, an inlet duct extending radially through the wall of saidvortex generating portion at the other end thereof, said inlet ductbeing adapted to direct a stream of fluid against the inner surface ofsaid Wall oppositethereto, whereby said fluid is caused to form twovortices with opposite senses of rotationand with axes substantiallyparallelto each other and to the axis of said vortex generating portion,said arms being positioned with respect to said vortex generatingportion to separate said parallel vortices so that a single vortexpasses down each arm, an outlet opening at the downstream end of each ofsaid arms, and means to remove separated material and relativelyunpurifled portions from said stream of fluid.

7. A centrifugal separator comprising a generally Y shaped hollow bodyhaving an approximately cylindrical, double vortex generating portionand a pair of arms diverging from one end of said vortex generatingportion, an inlet duct extending radially through the wall of saidvortex generating portion at the other end thereof, said inlet ductbeing adapted to direct a stream of fluid against the inner surface ofsaid Wall opposite thereto, whereby said stream of fluid is caused toform two vortices with opposite senses of rotation and with axessubstantially parallel to each other and to the axis of said vortexgenerating portion, said arms being positioned with respect to saidvortex generating portion so that said vortices are separated and asingle vortex is directed to pass down each arm, an outlet at thedownstream end of each of said arms, a pluralit of peripheral slotsextending through the wall of each of said arms adjacent each of Saidoutlets, a bleeder duct between said outlet and said slots in each ofsaid arms, and a collector duct for each of said arms communicating withsaid slots and said bleeder duct for the reception of separated materialand partially purified fluid.

8. A centrifugal separator comprising a generally Y shaped hollow bodywith a cylindrical, double vortex generating portion, an inlet duct,generally rectangular in cross section, extending radially through thewall of said vortex generating portion at one end thereof, the wall ofsaid vortex generating portion opposite said inlet duct being flattenedso that said inlet duct directs a stream of fluid against the flattenedWall portion whereb two vortices are formed with opposite senses ofrotation and With axes substantially parallel to each other and to theaxis of said vortex generating portion, said inlet duct being arrangednormal to the plane of said arms, said arms being positioned withrespect to said vortex generating portion to separate said vortices sothat a single vortex will pass down each arm, a plurality of peripheralslots extending through the wall of each of said arms at the downstreamends thereof for the reception of separated material, an outlet openingat the downstream end of each of said arms, a bleeder slot between saidfirst mentioned slots and said outlet opening in each of said arms, ableeder duct leading from said bleeder slot to convey relativelunpurified fluid, and a collector duct communicating with saidperipheral slots and said bleeder duct.

9. A centrifugal separator comprising a generally Y shaped body having ahollow, approximately cylindrical, double vortex generating portion, aninlet duct generally rectangular in cross section extending through thewall of said vortex generating portion at one end thereof and in agenerally radial direction thereto, the chordal dimension of said inletduct not exceeding .6 of the inside diameter of said double vortexgenerating portion, a portion of the wall of said vortex generatingportion opposite said duct being flattened, said inlet duct beingadapted to direct a stream of fluid against said flattened wall portionwhereby said stream of fluid is caused to form two substantiallyparallel vortices having opposite senses of rotation and axessubstantially parallel to each other and to the axis of said vortexgenerating portion, a pair of hollow arms diverging from the other endof said vortex generating portion in a plane normal to the axis of saidinlet duct, said arms being positioned with respect to said vortexgenerating portion to separate the parallel vortices So that a singlevortex will pass down each arm an outlet at the down stream endof eachof said arms, a plurality of peripheral slots extending through thelower wall of each of said arms at the downstream end of each arm, acircumferential bleeder slot in each arm located between said peripheralslots and said outlet, an annular bleeder duct leading from said bleederslot to draw ofi relatively unpurified fluid, and a collector ductextending around the lower half of the downstream end of each of saidarms and communicating with said peripheral slots and said annularbleeder duct to draw ofl deposited material and unpurified fluid.

DAVID B. ROSSHEIM.

HANS T. HOLZWARTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Aug. 3, 1939

